Combination hole punch



Feb. 5, 1935. J. T. scHAAFF COMBINATION HOLE PUNCH Filed March 26, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l U W m w .o GC 8 z m w mm mm mmu' M z v .ew o. S

BY iv ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1935. J. T. scHAAFF COMBINATION HOLE PUNCH Filed March 26, 1931 3 SheetS-Sheet 2 lNvENToR JH/v T. ScHAA FF- BY LL' ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1935. .J T, SCHAAFF 1,989,887

COMBINATION HOLE PUNCH Filed March 26, 1931 5 Sheets-Shee't, 3

lNvENToR JEHN 7-. SCHAAFF BY ZJ-z AT'roRNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1935v g Lei-89,887 PATENT OFFICE ooMBINATIoN HoLE rUNcn John T. Schaaif, Washington, D, (1.; assignor,l by mesne assignments, to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 26, 1981,' seria1 No. 525,375 1 olaim. (cl. 164-118) 'This invention relates to record card perforating'machines and more particularly to a 'machine lfor punching combinations of'holes in cards used to control tabulating and sorting machines.

In' the well-known Peirce system of perforated cards 'combinations of holes in a given column are used to represent definite information such as numerals or letters of the alphabet. The numerals are'o'rdinarily represented by one or two perforationsiarranged'in four possible perforation positions in the column and the letters o-f the alphabet' are represented by one or more perforations in six positions in the column. Machines for perforating cards according to this system have heretofore been designed along the lines of ordinary typewriting machines and are adapted to` punch' the necessary combination of holes, one column at a time and at the same time to print the data represented by the holes above the respectivecolumns. In particular instances, it Vis not necessary to print the character upon Vthe card, the pperforations alone being sufiicient. For this reason 'it is possible to employ lesscostly machines where large numbers of cards are per- 'forated without the corresponding printing. The vwell knownHollerith type of perforating machine 'is al verypsimple' device capable of being moved about very readily and is less expensive to construct than other types -of punchesl I have therefore devised a machine similar in construction to the I-Iollerithtype of perforating machine which is adapted to punch combinations of holes but in which the printing is omitted.

In illustrating the invention, I have shown the machine as adaptedto punch holes representing numerals and not the alphabet excepting ,X and R. to Vrepresent the 11th and 12th positions. I desire to have it understood'however that the present disolosure is only illusvtrative of the invention and that the same idea may be employed by supplyingthe necessary extra parts to punch combinations representing the entire alphabet as well as the numerals. In the Hollerith type of punch themachine is ordinarily adapted to effect punching` in a plurality of columns on the card in which there is a single row of these columns. Inrthe present instance,I have devised means whereby the card may be shifted up and down so Vthat punching may be elfected first in .one horizontal row of columns and then `in a second horizontal row of columns either above oribelow first row;

Referring to the drawings wherein I have `lsl'iown what I now consider to be the preferred machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation taken on line 2-2 of Flg. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the punch actuatingmechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the carriage escapement mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a table showing the arrangement of v perforations to represent the various numerals or other characters;

Fig. '7 is a modified form of a key connection in which the key may be located to the front of the machine; v

Figs. 8 and 8a show themanner in which the top plate of the machine, through which the keys project, may be made;

Figs. 9 and 9a` are details of the means for effecting actuation of a plurality of punches.

Referring to the drawings, the frame or base 1 of the machine includes a card supporting table 2 and supporting sides 3. The card 4 is carried on the table 2 between upper and lower guide rails 5, 6 and between a right end guide 7 and a left end guide 8 mounted on a carriage 9 which is provided with supporting rollers 10, 11. The rollers are supported on a run or supporting rod 12 and the arm 7a reaches into a guide groove 13 in the bed or card plate 2. A roller 14 mounted on the arm 8 rests upon the card plate. The card carriage 9 is provided With rack teeth 15 cooperating with a gear 16 carried in a spring Controlled drum 17 mounted in the base of the The spring drum is adapted to be placed under tension when the carriage is moved toward Vthe right and will tend to rotate the gear 16 to move the card carriage back toward the left. Escapement pawls are provided to hold the carriage in any position to which it may be moved and to release it and permit it to move one step to the left whenever a key is actuated to effect the punching of the card. The escapement mechanism includes-a pair of pawls 19, cooperating with the ratchet teeth 18 on the carriage. The pawl 19 is loosely mounted on a rod orshaft 21 and is provided with a large hole 22 cooperating with a pin 23 integral with an arm 24 fixed on the shaft. An arm 25 loose on the shaft is connected by a strong spring 26 to an 'arm 24a which is integral with the arm 24. Also 'ment permits a relative setting of arms 24, 25 so that the arm 24 as in effect fixed with respect to the shaft 21.

` Counterclockwise rocking of the shaft 21 as viewed in Fig. 5 will thus raise the pin 23 and a slot with the pawl 20. Thus when the shaft 21 is rocked counterclockwise to lift the pawl 19 out of the ratchet teeth 18, it will also deprss the pawl 20 into cooperation with the-ratchet teeth so that when theV pawl 19.releases Uthe;carriage the latter will still be vheld ;by pawl 20zgagainst movement toward the left.. The pawl 19 is provided with a projection 19a connected by a spring? V. 30 to the arm so that when theshaft21 .is'released and rocked clockwise back to normal position andbthe pin 23 thus releases the pawl 19l-the` spring Will rock the pawl back into cooperation `with the ratchet teeth 18. i

A spring 31 cooperating at Ionetend with a fi'ed portion 32 of the machine presses at its other end against projection 24b of the'arm 24 which as we have seen is -fixed on the shaft. The spring thus alwaystends to rock the yshaft in a clockv`Wise direction so that when it is rockedin a counterclockwise direction to permitthe carriage 9 to escape to the left andis thenreleasedit will turn back in a clockwise direction permitting the pawl 19 to reengage the ratchet teeth and lifting the pawl 20 out of engagement. Thepawl 19 is not only loosely mounted on the shaft 21 but is su'fficiently loose to permit the spring` to `move it toward the'right when it disengages the ratchet teeth 18. VVhen pawl 20 engages the ratchet and pawl 19 disengages, the latter jumps forward' slightlyvto clear the tooth which it has just released. When shaft 21 turns clockwise back tonormal position the pawl 19 moves into the next notch and as theV pawl 20 releases the ratchet teeth the [carriage moves to the left 'until .stopped by pawl' 19 with the next columnin position forppunching. The manner in whichbthe shaft 21 is rockedwhenever a key is depressed to effect punching will be brought out presently 'in connection With the description of the operation of the punches. i

The four punches 33 are mounted in upper and lower guides 34, 35` and are lpressed upwardly by springs 36. The card 4 is moved between the punch supporting guide 35 and the die plate 37 and is adapted to be perforated by depression of the punch. ,In order that the punches' may be closely spaced apart I provide rather light Springs 36. Also the diameter of the punches between theV upper head 33a`and the lower punching end may be smaller than the diameter of the punching end. 'Thespring 36 is thus weaker than sprngs that are normally provided to lift the punch out of the cardv after it has been pressed through and for this reason additional spring pressure may be provided to insu're a removal of the punch after it has been released. For this purpose, I provide a plate38 pivoted at 39 and pressedv upwardly by one or more `Springs 40 against the lowerv shoulder of theV head 33a of each of the punches. Thus, whenever a punch is pressed through the card it not only' depresses its springp36 but also by rocking the plate 38 depresses theadditional spring or Springs 40. Then ,whenthe--punchis released spring or springs 40 will aid the spring 36 in lifting the punch out of. the card. Resting on the top of each of vthe punch heads33a is an interposer bar 41. This bar is pivotallyconnected at 42 to a bar 43 which is provided with several pin projections 44 adapted to cooperate'with cam edges 45 carried by the several operating 'keysz 46. Eachkey 46 connected to an arm 47 which is provided with guide rollers 48 cooperatingV with .the .side `plates of frame 49 of the machine.

A spring 50 is adapted to raise the arm 47 to return the key to its upper or normal position.

Each key arm 47 may be provided with one or morefof the cam projections 45 as shown in Fig. 3.

Thus where two perforations are used to represent anumeral as in the case of 3" and several others of theA numerals the 43" key will have two'off-the, cam projections 45 cooperating with pins. 44of twqof the slides 43 to bring about operation' of' the two proper punches. When the key;46 Ais depressed its cam or cams 45 will move the proper slide or slides 43 toward the left. This will move ythe corresponding interposer or inter- .pos'ers'll to the leftover the top of lthe punch headorheads 33a. These' interposers will thus be movedi'under'an Operating bar 51 carried by arocking 'bail or member 52 pivoted atv 53.* A spring 54.(see Fig. 4) normally tends to hold the 'bai'l 52 in itsupper position. Connectedto the bail is 'a link 55 attached at itslowe'r end -tovan arm `56 pivoted at 57 and fixed with respect, Ato

an arm 58 which in turnfiis vconnected-at its 'lower end by a link 59 to the armature 60 ofan electromagnet 61. The armature is pivoted at 62 and when `attracted by the `electromagnet operates the parts toefiect depressionof the bail 52 and Operating projection or barf51. Thelatter then depresses any of the interposers 41 that have moved tothe left,-causing 'them to depress the corresponding punches 'to effect perforationof the card in the proper places. l M

Each of the interposers 41 is provided with'` a notched portion at 63 into which a rocking plate 64 reaches. This plate is pivoted at 65 and is connectedat 66 asshown in Fig..,4 to a latch v67. The latch -is normally pressed by a spring68 `downwardly andfinto cooperation withthe lower liftingof contact 69. When any key is-actuated, movingone or more of the interposers 41 to the'left, the latch 67 will thus be raised effect- 'armature to rock and causes thepunches ltobe depressed through the card. As the punches are actuated. a Vprojection 70 carried by the link 59 adapted to engage the latch 67 and moveit out of cooperation' with the contact 69 permitting the later to open under tension of its leaf spring thus effecting deenergization of the Vmagnet. lThe magnet actuated parts are then released, permitting them to'return tonormal position. The armature 60 is connected to toggle links 71 which are connected at the other'end 72 to`a fixed part of the machine. The toggle'permits the 'armature to move almcstwinto contact with the core of the magnet but does not permit actual physical contact. This avoids unnecessary noise in. the operation'cf the machine.

A projection 73 fixed with respect to the togglev vlinks is provided with a spring 74 which serves '010 -tion.v A spring 75 connectedto a projection on each of the interposers 41:, willrestore the .'latter ;1,75

as well as the corresponding slide 43 as soon as the Operating key 46 has been released and raised by its spring 50. This will in turn release the rocking plate 64 permitting the latter to be rocked back to its normal position by the spring 68 and this in turn will lower the latch 67 until it snaps back under a lower leaf of contacts 69 ready for the next operation of the machine.

Reaching across under the several interposer bars 41 is a bail 76 loosely mounted on the shaft 21 and having a projection 77 provided with a set screw 78 adapted to cooperate with the arm 241). Thus when any of the interposer slide bars 41 is depressed it will rock the bail '76 and through the Cooperation of the set screw 78 with the arm 24 effect the counterclockwise rocking of shaft 21 to release the carriage, permitting the latter to move one step to the left after the punch is withdrawn to bring the next column on the card into position beneath the punches ready to be perforated upon the next depression of a key.

In order to perforate a series of columns across lthe card and to then perforate the second series of columns across the cardin another field the card guides 5, 6 are adapted to be moved up and down. For this purpose the 'guides are mounted on links '79, 80 located below the table 2 of the machine. These links are connected by connecting links 81 to arms 82 fixed on shaft 83 which reaches across the inside of the base of the machine and projects outside of the base as in Figs. 1, 2 and has fixed thereon an Operating crank 84. Assuming that the upper field of columns is to be perforated first the crank 84 will be turned slightly in a counterclockwise direction moving the guides 5, 6 into their lower position before the punching operation on a particular card is commenced. After the upper field has been completely punched the card carriage is moved back to the left once more and the crank 84 is turned in a clockwise direction moving the guides 5, 6 into their upper position as in Fig. 1. This raises the card so as to present the lower field in position to be punched. The punching operation is then performed in the same manner as in connection with the punching of the upper eld. The escapement mechanism operates the same in both instances. After the card has been cornpletely punched it will be removed and a new one inserted and the guides 5, 6 returned to their lower position so that the punching will be done first in the upper field.

When it is desired to pass certain columns upon the card Without punching any information in such columns this may be effected by depressing the space key 85. This key is connected to a slide 43 which in turn is connected to an interposer bar 41 resting on the top of a dummy punch 33a. This particular punch is not long enough to penetrate the card but is provided with the usual restoring spring 36. When the key is depressed the interposer 41 moves under the operating bar 51 as usual and the magnet 61 is energized, causing the Operating bar to depress the interposer. This causes operation of the escapement mechanism. For each column that is to be skipped the space key will be depressed once.

If it is desired to release the carriage before a complete column across the card Vhas been punched and to perrnit the carriage to move its full distance to the left thus skipping a number of columns without punching, this may be effected by depressing the release key 86. This key is adapted to operate a slide 43a which is not connected to any' of the interposer bars 41 but is adapted when moved to the left (see Fig. 1) to rock an arm 87 about its pivot 88. The outer end of the arm 87 is shaped as shown in Fig. and rests under a pin 89 fixed in the escapement pawl 19. When the release key is actuated the outer end of this arm moves to the right as viewed in Fig. 5 thus camming the escapement pawl up and out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 18. This raising is permitted by the size of the hole 22 and does not affect the lowering. of the pawl 20. Thus the carriage is completely released and is actuated by the spring drum 17 moving the carriage all the way to the left. When the release key is actuated and the pawl 19 is raised the pin 89 rests on the upper level portion of the lever 87 and is held in this position even after the key has been permitted to be restored to its upper position.

When the card carriage reaches the end of its travel to the left the arm 7a strikes a depending bracket 87a fixed to the arm 87 and moves the latter to the left as seen in Fig. 5 back to its normal position, this in turn permits the pawl 19 to drop back into cooperation with the escapement ratchet teeth 18.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 8a, the top plate through which the stems 46a of the keys 46 project, may be made up in sections or strips 46h with cut out Sections 46a for the key stems. This obviates the necessity of removing the tops of the keys when assembling the device, so that the tops may be riveted or otherwise secured to the stems.

Fig. 9 shows how several, three in this instance, of the depending cam members 45 may be formed for attachment to one of the keys to efiect punching of a corresponding number of holes in a column. As shown in Fig. 9a the several cam members 45 carried by a single key may be ofiset where desired so that one of them will not interfere with the Wrong pin 44.

In Fig. 1 the keys 46 are on the top of the machine. In the modification shown in Fig. 'I the keys 46d are attached to arms 47a integral with the lower portion of arm 47. This will bring the keys down to a convenient location in the front of the machine if desired.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In a machine for perforating in a plurality of columns on a record card, a column of punches corresponding to a single column of the card, and adapted when operated to perforate the card, a plurality of slides, one for each punch, for causing operation of the punches, a plurality of key operated bars each having one or more cam members for actuating the slides to effect operation of one or a combination of several' punches, and means actuated in response to a punching operation for feeding the card to present a new column thereof into cooperative relation with the punches.

JOHN T. SCHAAFF. 

